Voices from the Frontlines: Resistance, Policy, and the Path to Climate Equity

Author: Ethan Cohen

Field of Study: Social Sciences

Program Affiliation: Source Project Research Program

Faculty Mentors: Matthew Cole

Easel: 27

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Climate change policies and solutions frequently disregard the frontline communities most affected by environmental damage, particularly those resisting extractive industries such as fossil fuel industries and large-scale energy projects. This research explores how this resistance shapes more than just policy, focusing on the ways communities challenge harmful practices and search for solutions that prioritize equity. Through case studies, such as the Wayúu people in La Guajira, Colombia fighting against a new form of extractivism, the connection between activism and policymaking is evident. The findings reveal that without a community based system, climate policies risk reinforcing existing inequalities rather than addressing them. By looking at both past and present movements, this research highlights the need for solutions that center local voices and reparative justice. A truly sustainable transition must not only step away from fossil fuels but also get rid of the structures of exploitation that have marginalized these communities for generations.